JOIN USThe Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)-led government in Nepal deserves applause for the important step it has taken to address the grievances of Madhesis. It has approved a constitutional amendment proposal that goes some way in addressing their grievances with the 2015 Constitution. The proposed amendment envisages federal redrawing of boundaries to provide for two Madhesi-dominated provinces in the Terai region. Additionally, the pattern of representation in the Upper House of Parliament has been changed to ensure greater representation of Madhesis. Madhesi groups had violently protested the new Constitution last year as it was discriminatory. The Terai region was in flames for several months and Madhesi groups imposed a blockade of goods entering the country, which caused immense hardship to Nepalis. The 2015 Constitution deepened Madhesi alienation from the Nepali state. It also soured relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi.
Madhesis are divided on the amendment bill. Some have pointed out that it does not meet their original demands and is a diluted version of it. Indeed, they had demanded a single Madhesi province spanning the entire Terai region. However, they must recognise that the amendment is a compromise solution and meets their demands half-way. Hence, their representatives in parliament should support the amendment. The passage of the amendment bill requires a two-thirds majority in parliament and there is some concern that the main opposition party, the K P Oli-led Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) will vote against it. But much of its antagonism stems from its anger with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for pulling the rug from under the Oli-led government some months ago. The politics of revenge rather than concern over the content of the amendment is driving the CPN-UML’s position. Hopefully, better sense will prevail.
It is unfortunate that the Nepali government has been half-hearted in dealing with the discriminatory citizenship rules in the 2015 Constitution. The proposed amendments go some way in guaranteeing the rights of naturalised citizens but discrimination persists. Importantly, the government has not amended rules that restrict a woman’s right to pass on citizenship to her child. It has been 10 years since Nepal’s political parties and Maoist rebels came together and signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to end the decade-long civil war. The Nepali people are still waiting for the dividend from that agreement. It is time Nepal’s political parties delivered on their promise.